Curtain stretcher



N. M. MAVITY 2,637,991

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed June 6, 1954 ATTORNEYE.

Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates particularly to an apparatus for and method of stretching curtains.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved curtain stretcher which enables stretching curtains uniformly at all points along their ends and sides so as to obtain straight edges.

Another object of the invention is to provide a curtain stretcher which is particularly adapted to stretch curtains and obtain straight end and side edges wherein the curtains have hems at their sides and also at their ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of stretchingcurtains having hems at both the ends and sides so as to obtain straight side and end edges.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, the drawing relating thereto and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

20 For a better understanding of the invention,

reference may be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a curtain stretcher constructed according to one form of the invention.

25 Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View on a larger scale taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View on a larger scale taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating use of the curtain stretcher in connection with another type of curtain. v

Thecurtain stretcher illustrated is particularly adapted to stretch a curtain indicated at In which has hems l l at its ends as shown in detail by Fig. 5, and hems [2 at its sides as shown in detail by Fig. 4. Generally and as shown in the curtain illustrated, the side hems I2 are formed first by folding over side edges of the curtain material and then stitching along the folded edge and following this, end portions of the curtain material are folde-d'over and stitched to provide the end hems H. Pursuant to this practice, the side hems l2 are closed at their ends when the material is folded over in forming the end hems but the latter have their ends open.

The stretcher includes bars it that are inserted endwise through the end hems H until the ends of the bars project beyond both sides of the curtain and, owing to the size of the hems usually employed, the bars'M may have sufficient dimensions that they provide a rigid means for stretching the curtain endwise. For stretching the side edges of the curtain, small wire-like rods I5 are employed and these rods have substantially pointed ends as indicated at Hi. In practically all instances the curtain material is of open mesh character and the rods IS with their pointed ends 16 are of such size that the material may be pierced with the rods without actual tearing of the material. One of these rods then is inserted from one end of each of the side hems l2 and in inserting the rod the pointed end thereof is passed through that portion of the end hem I l at the end of the side hem. The rod is passed over or under the bar 14 and then through the side hem until the inserted end of the rod is at the other end of the curtain where the rod then is passed over or under the other bar [4 and its pointed end is pierced through the other end hem ll. When one of the rods l5 has been inserted in this manner in each of the side hems [2, the curtain is in condition to be stretched.

It may be mentioned also that the rods 15 pass through stitch loops of the stitching that holds the end hems ll across the side hems l2. It follows that when the curtain is stretched laterally, this stitching is also drawn laterally, thereby avoiding puckering that otherwise might occur owing to the tendency of the stitching to hold the curtain material against stretching. The size of the rods [5 and the pointed ends thereof readily facilitate passing the rods through the stitch loops.

For stretching the curtain a frame is provided which includes end bars l8, a side bar I9 rigidly connected to the ends of the end bars l8 by means of angle brackets and an adjustable side bar 22. It may be mentioned that the angle brackets 20 provide a rigid means for maintaining the shape of the frame and this is important during the curtain stretching operation. Each end of the side bar 22, as best shown by Fig. 2, is provided with plates 23 and 24 at its opposite sides, and these plates are secured to the bar by means of screws 25 or the like. The ends of the plates project beyond the ends of the bar and are bent into converging relation as indicated at 26 and such converging ends of the bars receive the end bars l8. A bolt 21 having a wing nut 28 extends through each end of the bar 22 and through the plates 23 and 24 and the plates are slightly bulged where the bolts project through them so that by tightening the wing nut 28 a clamping action is obtained which draws the converging ends 26 of the plates into tight engagement with the end bar l8. By loosening the wing nuts 28 the bar 22 may be moved inwardly or outwardly so as to increase or decrease the size of the frame and after adjustment tightening of the wing nuts 28 serves to hold the bar 22 rigidly in position.

In stretching the curtain endwise one of the bars I4 may be fastened to the side bars I and 22 and then the other bar I4 may be pulled to stretch the curtain, after which the latter bar is held in adjusted position. For so holding the bars, a series of openings 39 may be provided longitudinally in each of the side bars I5 and 22 and nails or other suitable elements adapted to fit selectively in these openings may be used for holding the bars in place. In the construction illustrated nails 3| are shown as piercing the upper ends of the bars disposed over the frame bar I5 and projecting into certain of the openings 30, whereas on the bar 22 one of the nails 3| is shown at the inner side of the bar I4 and a bracket screw 33 as shown by Fig. 2 is provided for holding the end of the other bar I 4. Any other suitable means may be used for holding the bars I4 in position during the time that the curtain is to be held in a stretched condition and which permits adjustment of bar 22. It will be appreciated that the end edges of the curtain will be maintained straight owing to the contact of the bars I4 all along the end hems II.

The wire-like rods I5 necessarily are flexible and particularly so when the length of the ordinary curtain is considered as the rod must be sufficiently small to pass through the mesh without tearing the threads. For holding the side edges of the curtain to the frame members I5 and 22, more rigid rods 34 may be mounted on each of the bars I5 and 22 and these rods are shown as passing through eye elements 35 disposed at spaced points along the bars. The ends of the rods may project through bracket plates 36 and have heads on their ends so that the rods will not move lengthwise. As shown best by Fig. 4, each of the rods 34 is provided with a series of pincher-like fastener elements 31 and each element as illustrated comprises gripping members 38 and 39 having complementary notches in their adjacent surfaces for receiving a coil spring 49 which encircles the rod and is slidable thereon. One end of this spring extends along the pincher element and seats in a notch II in one of the members 39 and the other end of the spring seats in a notch in the member 38. The right ends of the members 38 and 39 have notches 42 adapted to grip over the side hems I2 and to the edge portions of the hems in which the rods I5 are disposed.

By having these pincher members at suitably spaced points along the rod 34 it will be appreciated that the length of the rod I5 between any two of the pincher members may be suificiently short that it possesses sufficient rigidity to pull substantially uniformly on the edge of the curtain between such members. After the side edges of the curtain have been engaged with the several pincher members 31 on each of the frame members I5 and 22, the frame member 22 is pulled in such manner as to stretch the curtain and then the wing nuts 28 are tightened so as to hold the frame member in position. It is apparent of course that the curtain may have been stretched previously in a longitudinal direction or such stretching of the curtain may be effected after adjustment of the frame member 22 to stretch the curtain laterally and it will be appreciated that the holding means on the frame member 22 for maintaining the bars I4 in stretched relation does not interfere with adjustment of the frame member.

After the curtain has been maintained in a stretched condition for a proper period of time, the frame member 22 may be released and the nails 3| removed holding the bars I4 and following this the bars may be removed from the end hems II. The pincher members 31 may then be released from gripping engagement with the side hems I2 and the rods I5 then pulled out of the hems. While the mesh openings through which the rods I5 project in the ends of the hems II may be slightly enlarged, this can be readily corrected so as to reduce the enlargement by pressing the curtain material with an iron or the like.

The curtain thus treated has perfectly straight side edges as well as end edges and actual practice of the invention has revealed it to be highly efiicient. No damage to the curtain is done by passing the rods I5 through the material owing to the smallness of their size and in conjunction with the pincher members 3'! and the rigid rod 34, an eflicient and positive means is provided for applying uniform stretching to the side edges throughout their length.

Fig. 6 illustrates use of the stretcher in connection with a curtain of the shadow lace type wherein a folded fabric bead 45 or the like of scalloped character is provided along the side edges and the ends have hems such as previously described. In mounting this curtain within the frame and stretching it, the bars I4 may be employed in conjunction with the end hems and the rods I5 are passed through the outer scalloped portions of the beads 45. It will be noted that the rod first passes over the bead, then under the bead at two points, then over the bead at two points, etc., so that such outer scalloped portions are caught by the rod. The curtain then may be stretched on the frame as previously described, although in this case the members 31 will more or less directly engage the rods I5.

Although only one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of stretching curtains having a hem along each edge wherein two opposed hems are closed at their ends, which comprises passing bars through the other opposed hems, piercing the curtain material at the closed ends of the first hems by means of small wire-like rods and passing such rods through such hems and over the ends of the bars, stretching the curtain in one direction by moving the bars farther apart, and stretching the curtain in the other direction by gripping the hem portions enclosing the wirelike rods at a plurality of points along the edges of the curtain.

2. The method of stretching curtains having a hem along each edge wherein two opposed hems are closed at their ends, which comprises passing bars through the other opposed hems, piercing the curtain material at the closed ends of the first hems by means of small wire-like rods and passing such rods through such hems, releasably fastening the hem portions enclosing the wirelike rods at a plurality of points to provide substantially rigid elongated members and then stretching the curtain by moving the bars apart in one direction and the rigid members apart in the transverse direction.

3. The method of stretching fine mesh curtains having a hem along each edge wherein two opposed hems are closedat their ends by the folded over portions forming the other opposed hems, which comprises passing bars through the latter opposed hems, inserting small wire-like rods through the first opposed hems by enlarging mesh openings in the material at the closed ends of such hems, stretching the curtain by spreading the rods and bars in transverse directions, removing the rods and bars and then reducing such enlarged mesh openings substantially to the normal size thereof.

4. A curtain stretcher for stretching mesh curtains having a hem at each edge wherein one pair of opposed hems are closed at their ends, which comprises substantially stiff bars adapted to pass through the other pair of opposed hems, flexible, small wire-like flexible rods adapted to pass through the other opposed hems and through mesh openings in the material at the closed ends of the hems, means for holding the bars in position after stretching the curtain by moving such bars farther apart, relatively rigid means extending along the hems having the wire-like rods therein, and means connected to said rigid means for gripping the latter hems around the wire-like rods at a plurality of points along said rods, whereby the wire-like rods may be rendered sufliciently inflexible between said points as to apply stretching forces in a substantially uniform manner along the hems in which such rods are disposed.

5. A curtain stretcher for stretching mesh curtains having a hem at each edge wherein one pair of opposed hems are closed at their ends, which comprises substantially stiff bars adapted to pass through the other pair of opposed hems, flexible, small wire-like flexible rods adapted to pass through the other opposed hems and through mesh openings in the material at the closed ends of the hems, means for holding the bars in position after stretching the curtain by moving such bars farther apart, relatively rigid means extending along the hems having the wire-like rods therein, and means connected to said rigid means for gripping the latter hems around the wire-like rods at a plurality of oints along said rods, whereby the wire-like rods may be rendered sufficiently inflexible between said points as to apply stretching forces in a substantially uniform manner along the hems in which such rods are disposed, said last mentioned means comprising pincher members mounted on the rigid means and adapted. to grip the hem portions around the wire-like rods.

6. A curtain stretcher for stretching mesh curtains having a hem at each edge wherein one pair of opposed hems are closed at their ends, which comprises substantially stiff bars adapted to pass through the other pair of opposed hems, flexible, smiall wire-like flexible rods adapted to pass through the other opposed. hems and through mesh openings in the material at the closed ends of the hems, means for holding the bars in position after stretching the curtain by moving such bars farther apart, relatively rigid means extending along the hems having the wire-like rods therein, and means connected to said rigid means for gripping the latter hems around the wirelike rods at a plurality of points along said rods, whereby the wire-like rods may be rendered sufliciently inflexible between said points as to apply stretching forces in a substantially uniform manner along the hems in which such rods are disposed, said relatively rigid means comprising rods and said gripping means comprising pincher means mounted on and adjustable along the rods.

7. A device for stretching curtains wherein the curtain has one pair of opposed hems closed at the ends and the other pair open at their ends, comprising a rectangular frame having oposed sides, one of which is adjustable to increase the size of the frame, bars extending transversely of said opposed sides of the frame and adapted to pass through the hems ope-n at their ends, means on the opposed sides of the frame for adjustably holding the ends of the bars in curtain stretching position without interfering with adjustment of the adjustable frame member, small wire-like flexible rods adapted to pierce the curtain material at the ends of the other hems and to be disposed in such hems, and a plurality of means mounted on said opposed sides of the frame and at spaced points therealong for gripping the up:- per and lower sides of said other hems and about the rods therein whereby the rods between each pair of said gripping means are rendered substantially rigid for the purpose of applying substantially uniform stretching forces at all points along said other hems.

NOBLE M. MAVITY. 

